In Gujarat, Modi won three consecutive elections, but this will be the first in around 15 years when he is not at the helm in the state
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has said that the BJP will fight the state Assembly elections later this year with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its star.
"Modiji will be crucial. As chief minister, he was popular among the people here. Now, when he is Prime Minister, our seats will increase. We will keep alive the faith that he has entrusted in the people and face the elections. Modiji will be the centre point," he told DNA in an exclusive interview.
The BJP has recently fought and won a string of elections, including the one in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, with Modi as its face. In Gujarat, Modi won three consecutive elections, but this will be the first in around 15 years when he is not at the helm in the state.
Asked if he took any advice from Modi, Rupani, who took over as CM in August last year after Anandiben Patel stepped down, said, "Why not? We do. His has been a great leadership. He worked here for several years. He has experience. We take advice from Amit Bhai (BJP president Amit Shah) also. We take advice from both."
"After I took over as chief minister, Modi has made eight to nine visits to Gujarat. When we meet, he gives his marg darshan (guidance)," said the CM.
Affable and astute, Rupani described Modi as his mentor and said his government has taken inspiration from the PM on four principles — being transparent, decisive, progressive and sensitive.
He dodged a question on whether he would be the face of the BJP in Gujarat, saying the elections will be under Modi's leadership. "Whatever the party decides. We all work for the party," he said.
Unruffled by the Patel agitation, Dalit activists or the Opposition's demand for a loan waiver for farmers, Rupani is confident that the BJP is going to fulfil its mission of winning 150 of the 182 seats in the state.
Rupani was, however, non-committal on whether his government would go in for a farm loan waiver, on the lines of BJP governments in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
"We will do whatever is necessary to help farmers... We believe that if the farmer is happy, the village is happy, and if the village is happy, the towns and cities are happy. It's our commitment that farmers should get the minimum support price."
Rupani, a Jain, is seen to have an advantage in a politically-charged atmosphere. "I don't believe that the Patel (quota) agitation will impact us," he said.
A grassroots socio-political worker, he justifies his government's decision to make cow slaughter punishable by life imprisonment. "Prohibition and ban on cow slaughter are sensitive issues amongst us Gujaratis. These are also necessary for development. Liquor destroys the new generation and I have tightened laws. Same way, cow slaughter impacts the rural economy," he said.
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